A Timeless Wedding...Continued from page 3
Tom Kaplan
(PERSONAL COMMENTS by Minister)
This is a good place for a more light-hearted, personal touch, if you feel comfortable with it.
Included are possible inserts; e.g., the HEART and PRAYER acronyms. These were always well received. You can use a poem or something that you write yourself.
VOWS
(Bride gives bouquet to M. O. H. and joins hands with Groom, facing each other). “First name”, do you promise to be the spiritual leader for the home being created today, to love (B) “First name”, protect and provide for her, comfort and honor her, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live? (Groom answers "I do".)
And (B) “First name”, do you promise to love (G) “First name”, be his helpmate, comfort him, honor and keep him, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live? (Bride answers "I do".)
(Minister to Groom:) Repeat after me: I (G) “First name” take you (B) “First name”, to be my wedded wife; to have and to hold; from this day forward; for better and for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish; till death do us part.
(Minister to Bride:) Repeat after me: I (B) “First name” take you (G) “First name”, to be my wedded husband; to have and to hold; from this day forward; for better and for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love, and to cherish; till death do us part.
SCRIPTURE/PRAYER ? facing each other, standing or kneeling (bench or pillows)
(Minister to Couple: Ruth 1 Passage Together, repeat after me: “Entreat me not to leave you; or to return from following you; for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people; and your God my God.”
Prayer ? no amen if song has amen
SONG e.g., "Lord's Prayer" or “Wedding Prayer”- Name of Soloist
EXCHANGING OF RINGS
(Minister takes ring from Best Man and holds it.) Throughout the Bible, the idea of covenant is very important. God has given signs as reminders. He gave Noah the rainbow and Abraham circumcision.
The ring is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond. The gold symbolizes the purity of your love for ea
ch other, and the unending circle the permanent vows which you are taking. Wear this ring whenever possible as a sign to people, and as a reminder to your mate, of your commitment to each other.
(Minister gives the Groom the Bride's ring, to place on her third left finger, holding it there, he repeats:) With this ring, I thee wed; and pledge my love to you; in the name of the Father; and of the Son; and of the Holy Spirit.
(Minister takes ring from the M. O H. and gives to Bride to place on Groom's finger, she repeats:) With this ring, I thee wed; and pledge my love to you; in the name of the Father; and of the Son; and of the Holy Spirit.
UNITY CANDLE
(Bride and Groom move to Unity Candle. As they are approaching & lighting candle, Minister says:) The Unity Candle is made up of three individual candles. The two outside ones represent your two lives, that have been shining separately.
As you light the center candle, you are merging the two flames into one, just as you are welding your lives together.
The outside candles remain lit, signifying the importance of your individual uniqueness, as well as children and extended families. Yet the center candle stands out, just as your marriage takes precedence over all individual concerns, and other human relationships.
From this day forth, may you be as one. As this light cannot be divided, so will your lives be a testimony to your unity in the Lord Jesus Christ.